China and the European Union have reaffirmed their commitment to tackling global environmental challenges by pledging stronger cooperation on climate change, biodiversity conservation, and plastic pollution control. This announcement was made during a meeting between China’s Minister of Ecology and Environment, Huang Runqiu, and Teresa Ribera, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission, on the sidelines of the 17th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP17) in Yerevan, Armenia.
The discussions centered around the China-EU High-Level Environment and Climate Dialogue, with a focus on enhancing global biodiversity protection, advancing negotiations for an international agreement on plastic pollution, and preparing for the upcoming 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31). Huang highlighted the longstanding constructive cooperation between China and the EU in environmental protection and climate action, emphasizing the need to strengthen communication, implement existing agreements, and advance shared priorities through international cooperation.
Both parties addressed the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, which aims to set long-term goals for nature protection, including restoring at least 30 percent of degraded terrestrial, inland water, marine, and coastal ecosystems by 2030. Huang expressed hope for positive outcomes from the COP17 and COP31 meetings, aiming to enhance global environmental governance.
Ribera praised China’s contributions to environmental protection and climate negotiations, expressing her support for continued dialogue and closer cooperation with China on climate action, biodiversity conservation, and efforts to reduce plastic pollution. This renewed commitment underscores the significance of China-EU collaboration in advancing international environmental agreements and promoting a sustainable future.